Cause Of Bereavement Disorder (CG)

The loss of a loved one is a painful experience followed by a period of grief and mourning known as bereavement. Bereavement is an experience most individuals will endure at least once in their lives. For most people symptoms such as persistent yearning for the deceased, intense emotional pain, preoccupation with the deceased, and an overwhelming sense of sadness, last for a period of 12 months or less. For approximately 2.4%-4.8% of the population grief symptoms persist for more than 12 months (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). This is a condition known as complicated grief (CG), also referred to as prolonged grief, or persistent complex bereavement disorder (Bryant, 2014). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

A prominent factor is the level of dependence on the deceased at the time they passed away (APA, 2013). If an individual was highly dependent on the individual who died, they are more likely to develop CG. For example, if a child were to lose their parent, he/she is exponentially more likely to develop CG than others. Additionally, those who lose a child are at a higher risk of developing CG (APA, 2013). If an individual’s loved one was murdered or committed suicide, he/she is at risk of experiencing a prolonged and exasperated bereavement process as well (APA, 2013). There is still an abundance of research that is currently being done to determine other risk factors associated with

The authors reported those suffering from CG tend to experience the following cognitive changes: decreased memory capacity, difficulty concentrating, and intrusive thoughts. O’Connor and Arizmendi (2014) aimed to extend the research of Mancini and Bonnano (2012), and Maccallum and Bryant (2010). Both of the previous studies focused on young adults and their reaction times. Maccallum and Bryant (2010) found younger adults with CG had slower reaction times to grief related stimuli (O’Connor & Arizmendi, 2014). Correspondingly, Mancini and Bonnano (2012) found a priming stimulus that decreased the reaction time in an non-bereaved and control group, had no effect on the individuals who were suffering from CG (O’Connor & Arizmendi, 2014). O’Connor and Arizmendi’s (2014) study differed from prior studies by: utilizing an older sample with ages ranging from 62-82, screening for and excluding individuals with a diagnosis of MDD, including a non-bereaved control group, and creating personalized stimuli. The authors hypothesized individuals suffering from CG will have longer reaction times due to interference from personalized reminders in the modified Stroop test than individuals who are experiencing non-complicated grief and the non-bereaved